How long did it take?

[SouthMDShooter]

i was lucky enough to take a doe on my first trad hunt when i was 14, ive killed a few with a compound before that.

[straitera]

28 years ago now my friend Ms. Lannie Whiteford from  Viking Archery in Houston, Texas placed a 68" 75# longbow in my hands. Didn't take 20 minutes before I was grouping consistently on their 20 yard indoor target. I hadn't shot a longbow since I was a kid but immediately came home. (You know!) Soon as I shot it I bought it (and still hunt with it today). One week later during October Archery Season, I was standing in an oak tree 12 feet off the ground when I caught 2 blurs approaching PDQ through the woods. Quick decision time; yes/no, when, where, how? They were in my kitchen way too fast to deliberate. I drew and released on the biggest javelina at 13 yards as they approached my location dead on running. The 3-blade Thunderhead struck spine nearly splitting the shoulder blades. I promptly nocked another arrow and sent it flying towards a perfect heart shot finishing the excitement. 2 action shots in less than 20 seconds exactly where I was aiming! Sold everything but the longbow. I've been happy as a fat cat in tuna salad since.

[mnbwhtr]

3 years to take my first deer. Dec 3 1967 Necedah Wi. 100+ in the years since.

[Hot Hap]

4 years to get a shot at a deer. It was a bad choice of angles, with a good hit. Deer went 30 yards and it took me 5 hours to find him. Hap

[timthefuelman]

I've killed BIG time with no regrets, on my way out the door to do it again today!

[Jacko]

My first kill was a rabbit early 1980 , I carried it all morning through the heat and ate it that night - bloody awefull tough and stringy - loved it and was so proud >

My first big game kill ? was a small Boar that I put in an absolute blinder of a shot on , you know the ones where you see a tunnel and nothing but the spot you ARE GOING TO HIT , on the run at 25 yards - perfect heart shot .

 It  stopped 15 yards in front of me clicking its tusks head down glaring at me , my mate a very experienced bowhunter went to put an arrow into it as he swore I missed - I yelled to him not to shoot it was heart shot and my kill . I stepped to one side and put an arrow into the front of his chest

16 years old and pumped .My early photo's are glue to my bow rack and don't show clearly butr I often take my bows off the rack and reminese

regards Jacko

regards Perry

[Bigriver]

My first big game critter with a longbow. The pic was taken by GFred Asbell who I shared a camp with that week. We saw so few caribou, but I had one other chance at a bou. With the whole group watching, I had a huge  bull come up to me on the tundra & get withing 5 steps of me, but never give me a shot. He came straight on to me & I didnt want to take a chance at wounding it.Needless to say he saw me, almost running me over & blasted out of there. I was left sitting there with my heart in my throat. I was pretty bummed out, we saw so few bou.

 The last afternoon we had a group come past us  at a trot. Me being pretty desperate, I took a running shot at 37 yards & hit her in the heart. GFred saw the whole thing & helped me track her. 60 yards later, we found my bou. I probably will never forget it, was a great memory, and pretty sweet revenge.

 

[BMOELLER]

First time I took it out killed a doe at 12yrds after missing on the first shot.

[Apex Predator]

I always wanted to hunt traditional only, but would grab the wheels when it was time to make meat.  I took my first, a hog, the day I sold my compound!  Since then I've killed a 7 point buck and four more hogs.  I sold my last compound July 26, 2007!

[J.Williams]

Shot trad-gear for 2 yrs. before I felt confident enough to try and take a deer...and took a small 5 pt. that season(That's him in my avatar.)Man I was hooked and sold my compound and never looked back.Been making venison with a recurve every season since.

[Bowspirit]

Does a bow-killed domestic turkey count as big game?    

Cuz if so, then 5 years. If not, well, still waiting...

[Ia Hawkeye]

First trad Big game kill? Doe 1965. 2nd season of bowhunting.  Didn't even get a shot my first season.(only saw one deer !)

[James Wrenn]

45 miniutes on opening day.  Of course I had been shooting them with other kinds of bows for a long time so it was just a matter of shooting 3 arrows.The first 2 hit dirt but the 3rd one hit pay dirt.  

[Jason R. Wesbrock]

Originally posted by frassettor:
Just was wondering how long did it take you guys, and girls to take your FIRST traditional big game kill?  

I double-lunged a doe the second morning of my first season with a recurve.

[buckeye_hunter]

2 1/2 yrs shooting trad and still waiting to get my 1st harvest........got a good spot for this fall though!

Remember to enjoy the process too, it isn't all in the finish.

-Charlie

[Gehrke145]

2 years a TN hog with a bear recurve i was 14.  I still hunt with my compounds as well as my recurves and longbows.  Depends on where Im hunting and what animal.  I have a hard time shooting over 55 lbs with my stick, and cant shoot heavy arrows that good so i keep shooting wheels.  I kill about half my animals with a stick and the other half with my wheels. I LOVE IT ALL!

[Bonebuster]

October 1978. First year for me.

Found a place where deer were crossing a beaver dam. Windy day. Everyone said deer won`t move in the wind. Who cares?

Everyone said I needed a sight on my old Bear recurve, even though I had been shooting without one all summer. A hair pin held in position with electrical tape was my much needed "sight". About a half hour into my vigil, long after good shooting light had come, I look up to see a line of deer, almost in my shooting lane. Close range... she watched me draw my bow, and I watched my arrow fly a foot over her back. They scattered.

A ten minutes later, (several minutes after I ripped that hair pin off my bow) a sleek six point stood where the doe had escaped certain death, only minutes before. A deer was still snorting in the distance.

A summer of practice, shooting with a crushed cheek from a baseball accident, came into play.
I released my Microflite arrow, tipped with a tried and true Bear Razorhead.(file sharpened, because I read somewhere that was how Fred did it) He whirled with what seemed like all of my arrow hanging out, ran about sixty yards, stopped and fell over.
In total disbelief, I watched.

I was twelve years old. I have been "given" several deer over the years, and I accept each one with as much joy as the first.

Thirty years ago?!!!!????!!!!????!!!  

Dear God....thirty more?...Please.  Forty more???
Please?

[JSimon]

First big game trad kill last October. Last season was my first year hunting with a recurve after shooting for about a year and a half. I feel pretty lucky to say the least.